Danica Patrick announced her retirement from full-time racing but she will return next year for the 2018 Daytona 500 & the INDY 500

Credit: (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images Danica Patrick, driver of the #10 Aspen Dental Ford, speaks during a press conference announcing her retirement from full-time racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17, 2017 in Homestead, Florida.

DANICA RACING STATEMENT

Dear Partners,

It has been quite a year in the world of Danica Racing. We appreciate all the support you have shown us and we wanted to share with you some news Danica will be announcing this afternoon.

Following Sunday’s race in Homestead, Danica plans to step away from full-time competition.

While Danica may not be competing on a weekly basis next year, we are thrilled to share with you that she will be doing the “Danica Double” and will be a part of the 60th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February and the 102nd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May.

It’s hard to believe it’s been six years since Danica last competed in the Indy 500, and we can’t wait to see the excitement that will surround her return to “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing!”

Danica has made a ton of history at both Daytona and Indy and we’re excited to see what this next chapter has in store for her.

Danica Patrick competed full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series for Stewart-Haas Racing. Patrick became the first woman to a win a pole in the series when she was fastest in qualifying for the 2013 Daytona 500. She has also made starts in the XFINITY Series. Patrick finished 10th in points in her only full season, 2012.

May 2005 when Patrick stunned the world by leading 19 laps and finishing fourth in her first Indianapolis 500m, becoming the first woman to lead laps and score a Top 5 finish in the historic race.

April 2008, Patrick became the first woman to win a major-league open-wheel race in a North American series with her win in the IZOD IndyCar Series Indy Japan 300 at the Twin Ring Motegi oval in Japan.